Muru’s Views: ‘The effort was there, it was just the application which let us down’.

John Edwards

“We were disappointed not to come away with the win but the response from the team to what has been a testing few weeks was good. The effort was there, the endeavour was there on Saturday, it was just the application which let us down.

“The guys who went through with the team for me said they couldn’t fault our attitude.

“We know from a few years ago that if you get a good run at the start of the season, the confidence floods in and Scarborough played like a side who had momentum.

“We played like a team who had been struggling and are low on confidence, whereas Scarborough had bags of belief.

“We saw late last season that when you have that, it doesn’t matter what situation you find yourself in, you believe you can win games.

“Scarborough will do well if they can keep hold of it.

“Our defence, which we have prided ourselves for a number of years, has been slightly below where we want to be recently, due to missing a couple of key people through injury. but we are not conceding a great deal of points.

“If teams are going to beat us, they are going to have to earn it. From what I have been told, from people at Scarborough and Bridlington whose opinions I respect, Scarborough will not have a more physical test this season.

“People I trust said our pack fronted up and matched theirs.

“Our new signing Lee Terewi landed at Manchester on Tuesday and we are hopeful he will be involved for our next game on Saturday.

“I think he will bring a bit more creativity and has good experience of playing in Christchurch and with Canterbury Maoris. He is a number 10, in his late 20s or early 30s and we have a young side which needs a little bit more direction.

“I played for the second XV on Saturday against Scarborough and they are a great group of young guys who just want to play rugby which is a bonus for the club.

“There is a really positive vibe with them and even though our squad of 16 featured 12 forwards, which meant we were up against it, we got a try and defended for our lives.

“Saturday sees a home game against Dinnington, who have had a decent start and recruited well in the off-season. It is always a physical game but we will be fully prepared to go out and win the game.”